Vapor condenser



July 28, 1931. H. GUY 1,816,149

VAPOR CONDENSER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL c c: CDHCD/CD c3110 3 WITNESS INVENTORATTORNEY July 28, 1931. H. L. GUY 1,816,149

VAPOR CONDENSER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1931 Umrsn STATES PATENT oFFicE -HENRY LEWISGUY, F HALE, ENGLAND,

ASSIGNOR TO -ill/ESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA &MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A

VAPOR CONDENSER Application filed. December 18, 1926, Serial No.155,697, and

in Great Britain December 23, 1925.

Renewed April 29, 1930.

This invention relates to condensers of the radial flow type, that is tosay of the type'in which the vapor to be condensed is caused to flow ina more or less radial path from a space surrounding the tube nest to aspace Within the latter from whence air and other non-condensable gasesare extracted.

According to the invention in a condenser of this type thecross-sectional area of the space within the tube nest from whichnoncondensable gases are extracted is not less than 10% and preferablyconsiderably more than this of the total cross sectional area of thetube nest. For instance, assuming thatboth space and tube nest are ofcircular cross-section the radius of the former Would not'be materiallyless than one-third the radius of'the latter. I

The tube nest may be of any suitable cross-section and the cross-sectionof the space from which non-condensable gases are extracted preferablyconforms to that of the tube nest .and may be located centrally oreccentrically of the latter. To obtain the maximum outer periphery forgiven overall dimensions the tubes may be arrangedso that the tube nestas a whole has a, star-like or serrated cross section.

With condensers constructed according to the invention air removaltrunks or conduits of relatively large size can be located within thetube nest which in additionto their primary purpose can be utilized asstays for the tube plates. Further, it is possible to arrange for air tobe withdrawn through the water box by means of a pipe which is in- 7dependent of the water box itself.

Furthermore with condensers 0f the single-pass type constructed inaccordance ture than the water in the outlet end of the condenser.

In order, that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into practice reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings by which a steam con denser constructed in accordance therewithis illustrated by way of example, Fig.1 being a longitudinal section,Fig. 2 an end elevation viewed from the left hand end of Fig. 1 with thewater box cover at that end removed, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of aportion of the apparatus, taken on line III- III of Fig. 1, and Fig. dis a view, in sectional elevation, of the central portion of the inletwater box of the condenser and showing the arrangement of the pluglocated therein for directing the air into the numerous cooling spacesformed by the radially-extending vanes. For the sake of clarity, theinner edges of the vanes surrounding the plug and which would showbehind the plug, have been omitted.

The particular condenser illustrated is of a well known single flow typecomprising in general a casing 1 provided with a steam inlet 2 andcondensate outlet 8, sectionalized water-boxes 4- and 5 connected by atube nest 6 of substantially annular formation and incorporatingrespectively circulating water inlets and outlets 7 and 8, and an airwithdrawal pipe 9 attached to the water box The primary feature of thepresent -l11-' vention consists, as stated above, in that thecross-sectional area of the space 10, i. e. the

whole of the central cylindrical space enclosed by the tube nest 6, isnot less than 10% and preferably a considerably higher proportion of thetotal cross-sectional area of the tube-nest. By total cross-sectionalarea of the tube-nest is meant the cross-sectional area of the whole ofthe space enclosed by the outer periphery of the tube-nest, that is tosay, the cross-sectional area of the tubenest proper plus thecross-sectional area of the space l0. j V I V By this arrangement it ispossible to employ an air-removal trunk or conduit 11 of relativelylarge cross-section which, in addition to its. primary purpose, servesto stay the tube plates. It is also possible to locate air-cooling tubes11 within the trunk or conduit 11 and to arrange for the air-withdraw'al pipe to beindependent of the waterbox. This latter arrangementis not illustrated in the particular construction under considerationwhich, however, incorporates an alternative air-cooling devicecomprising a tubular rose :12 connected with the air-Withdrawal pipe 9.This rose is formed by a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced vanes 14projecting radially inward from the annular :water' box. Each vaneextends longitudinally of the water box and diverges from thelongitudinal axis thereof j near the air-removal trunk or conduit 11;Disposed within the annular space defined bythe inner edges of theseveral vanes 14 is a cylindrical plug 13 having a conical face '13 fordiverting the air radially outward between the several vanes 14. Theplug 13 is located in spaced relation withrespect to the entrant portionof the air-withdrawal pipe 9 so as to provide a cylindrical outlet oropen space 15between the plug and the outlet pipe 9, the space 15providing a communicating passage for the air moving from the spacesbetween the surrounding vanes 14: to the air-withdrawal pipe 9. It willbe noted that the space 15 is closed at the end remote from theair-withdrawal pipe 9 by the plug 13. The plug 13'is preferablysupported by bolts extending longitudinally into the water box from itsouter wall. By

locating the plug 13 in this manner, the

air from the conduit 11 is so diverted before it reaches theair-Withdrawal pipe 9 thatit comes into intimate contact with therelatively large heat-absorbing surface afforded by the several vanes 14and, the latter being disposed in direct heat-conducting relation withthe water in the inlet water box 4, thorough cooling of the air isconsequently effected. v V

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have evolved a new andeffective system for cooling the air withdrawn from condensers of thesingle pass type. "Essentially, my inventive idea comprises withdrawingthe air longitudinally through the core space of the tube nest in adirection from the hot end or dischargewater box end of the condensertoward the cold end or inlet water box end of the condenser and inembodying means at the cold or inlet water box end of. the condenser forcooling the air prior to its removal from the condenser. While, I preferto associate my improved form of air cooling systenrwith a tube nestwherein thecross-sectional area of the core space is preferably not lessthan 10% of the total cross-sectional area of the tube nest,nevertheless it will be obvious that my invention is equally applicableto condensers wherein the area of the core space is less-than 10% of thecross-sectional area of the tube nest, in which condensers the tubenest-may be so arranged as to merely provide sufficient core space forthe necessary passage of the air longitudinally therethrough. a a I a Itwill be understood that the particular application of the inventiondescribed above is by way of example only and that numerous other formsand applications may be devised without exceeding the limits of theinvention as defined by the succeeding claims.

W'Vhat I claim is 1. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubeswithin the shell, tube sheets for the tubes and water boxes associatedwith the tube sheets, the combination of an air offtalre within the nestof tubes andthrough a water box, together wi h means within one of thewater boxes for directing gases there: in away from the center of saidoil-take, whereby air and non-condensable gases are directed inproximity with cooling media in a water box before removalfromcondenser.

In a condenser comprising a shell, a,

nest of tubes within the shell, tube sheets for the tubes, and waterboxes associated with the tube sheets, the combination of an air andnon-condensable gas offtake centrally disposed with respect to the nestof tubes, and extending through a water box and means within saidofftake for directing gases in a tortuous course within saidoiftalre andthrough the water box. 7

3. In a condenser comprising a shell, a nest of tubes within the shell,tube sheets for the tubes, and water boxes associated with the tubesheets, the combination of an air and non-condensable gasofftakecentrally disposed with respect to the nest of tubes and extendingthrough a water box, together with a conical obstruction within thewater box section of said oiftake and radialrfins associated with saidconical obstruction whereby gases withdrawn through the water box aredirected inproximitywith cooling media. V V

4. In a condenser,-the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and a condensate outlet, a hollow .nestfof tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shel l, the inner boundary tubes of said nestdefining a core space having an unrestricted fi'owarea for thelongitudinal circulation of gaseous media, an inlet water box associatedwith one end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated withthe other end of the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged so as toprovide for circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinaldirection through the nest, and means connecting with the core space ofthe tube nest near the inlet water box end of the condenser for removingair therefrom.

r 5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having aninlet forexhaust steam and a condensate outlet, a hollow nest of tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shell, the inner boundary tubes of said nestdefining a core space having an unrestricted flowarea for thelongitudinal circulation of gaseous media, an inlet water box associatedwith one: end of the tube nest and an outlet water box associated withthe other end of the tube nest,'said water boxes being arranged so as toprovide for circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinaldirection through the nest, and means extending through'the inlet waterbox of the condenser and connecting with the end portion of the corespace adjacent the inlet water box for removing air from said corespace.

6. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and arcondensate outlet, a hollow nest of tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shell, the inner boundary tubes of said nestdefining. a core space, an inlet water box associated with one end ofthe tube nest and an outlet water boxassociated with the other end'ofthe tubenest, said water boxes being arranged so as to provide forcirculation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direction throughthe nest, conduit means occupying the core space and extendinglongitudially between the tube sheets'ior the circulation of gaseousmedia, said conduit means being so formed as to provide an unrestrictedflow passage, and said conduit means having openings for the receptionof air, and

outlet means connecting with said conduit means near the inlet water boxend of the condenser. I

7'. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and a condensate outlet, a hollow nest of tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shell, the inner boundary tubes of said nestdefining a core space, an inlet water box associated with one end of thetube nest and an outlet water; box associated with the other end of thetube nest, said water boxes being arranged so as to provide for.circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direction throughthe nest, conduit means occupying the core space and extendinglongitudinally between the tube sheets for the circulation of gaseousmedia, said conduit means being so formed as to provide an unrestrictedflow passage, and said conduit means having openings for the receptionof air, outlet means connecting with said conduit means near the inletwater box end of the condenser, and means for conveying cooling waterfrom the inlet water box through said conduit means to the outlet waterbox, whereby the air in the conduit means is reduced in temperature.

8. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and a condensate outlet, a hollow nest of tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shell, the inner boundary tubes of said nestdefining a core space, an inlet water box associated with one end of thetube nest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of thetube nest, said water boxes being arranged so as to provide forcirculation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direction throughthe nest, a conduit cating with said conduit near the inlet water boxfor cooling the air removed thereby, and air oft-take means provided insaid compartment.

9.-In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet'forexhaust steam and a' condensate outlet, a hollow nest of tubes extendinglongitudinally through the shell, the inner boundary tubes of said estdelining a core space, tube sheets located at each end of the tube nestand intermediate of the ends of the latter, an inlet water boxassociated with one end of the tube nest and an outlet water boxassociated with the other end of the tube nest, said water boxes beingarranged so as to provide for circulation of cooling water in a sin le,longitudinal direction through the nest, and conduit means extendinglongitudinally be tween the tube sheets and formed to provide anunrestricted flow passage for withdraw- 1ng air longitudinally throughthe core space in a direction irom the discharge water box toward theinlet water box, and outlet means connmmicating'with said air withdrawalmeans near the inlet water box end of the condenser.

10. In a condenser, the combination of a V a condensate outlet, asubstantially annular nest through the shell, the inner boundarytubes toform an'intervening steam delivery space surrounding the greater portionof the tube nest, an inlet water box associated with one so as toprovide for circulation of cooling water in a single, longitudinaldirection through the nest, means for withdrawing air from the corespace, and a cooling compartment for the air located, transversely, inapproximate alignment with the core space or" the tube nest and,longitudinally, near the inlet water box end of the condenser.

11. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and of tubes extending longitudinally of saidnest'defining a core space, and the outer boundary tubes of said nestbeing spaced from the side walls of the shell so as to i'ormanintervening steam delivery space surrounding the greater portion of thetube nest an inlet Water box associated with one endof the tubenestandan outlet water box associated with the other end of the tube nest, saidwater boxes being arranged so as to provide for circulation of coolingwater in a single, longitudinal direction throiwhthe nest means forwithdrawin Z3 7 i a1r from the core space, and ZLCOOllllg compartmentfor the air formed in the inlet water box in approximate alignment withthe core space of the tube nest.

12. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an inlet forexhaust steam and a condensate outlet, a substantially annular nest oftubes extending longitudinally throughthe shell, the inner boundarytubes of said nest defining a core space, and-the outer boundary tubesof said nest being spaced from the side walls of the shell so as to forman intervening steam delivery space surrounding the greater portion ofthe tube nest an inlet water box associated with one end of the tubenest and an outlet water box associated with the other end of the tubenest, said water boxes being arranged so as to provide 01" circulationof cooling water ina single, longitudinal direction through the nest,"and means ior withdrawing air longitudinally through the core space inadirectionfrom the discharge water box towards the ,inletwater box, saidair withdrawal means extending through the inlet water box.

- 13. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure havinganinlet for gaseous -media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate,a tube'nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure andexposed-throughout its length to the gaseous media entering through theinlet, an inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nest anddefining a cold end thereof and an outlet water box associated with the-W tt-AH 14. A condenser as claimed in claim 13 having means located nearthe inlet water box end of the condenser for cooling the non-condensedgaseous media prior to its removal from thecondenser.

1'. In condenser, the combination of a s5 structure having an inletforgaseous a tube nest extending longitu- 'ough the'shell structure andexughout its length to the gaseous ri through the inlet, an inletsupplying cooling water to the tube nest, an outlet water box forreceiving the cooling water discharged by the tube nest, Said tube nestbeing so formed as to embody a longitudinally-extending cavity having anunrestricted flow-area for the circulationoi' gaseous media to portionof t is shell structure adjacent the inlet water box, and meanscommunicating with the interior of the shell structure near the con den:

inlet water box for removing non condensed gaseous media from the shellstructure.

16. In 'a condenser, theicombination of a shell structure having aninlet for gaseous media to be condensed; and an outlet for condensate, atube nest extending longitudinally 't irough the shell structure andexposed tliro at its length to the gaseous media entenng througlitheinlet, tube sheets located at each end ofth tube nest and intermediateof the ends of the tube nest for supporting the latter, an inlet waterbox associated with an end portion of the tube nest and with the shellstructure and delining a cold portion thereof, an outlet water boxassociated with end portion of the tube nest and with the shellstructure and for the circulation Oil to be condensed and an outlet for,

Qso formed as its air and non-condensable gas ofttake means.

17. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media to be condensed and an outletfor condensate, a'tubenest extending longitudinally through the shell structure and exposedthroughout its length to the gaseous media entering through the inlet,an inlet water box for supplying cooling Water to the tube nest, anoutlet water box for receiving the cooling Water discharged from thetube nest, tube sheets located at each end and intermediate of the endsof the tube nest for supporting the latter, said intermediatetube-supporting sheets being provided with openings of substantial,unrestricted flow-area and said tube nest being to embody alongitudinally extendin cavity for the circulation of gaseous mediathrough the openings in the intermediate tube-supporting sheets from apor tion of the shell structure adjacent the outlet water box to aportion of the shell structure adjacent the inlet water box,,and meanscommunicating with the interior of the shell structure near the inletwater box for removing non-condensed gaseous media from the shellstructure.

18. In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having aninlet'for gaseous media to be condensed and an outlet for condensate, atube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure andexposed throughout its length to the gaseous media entering through theinlet, an inlet water box for supplying cooling water to the tube nest,an outlet waterbox for res ceiving the cooling water discharged by thetube nest, tube sheets located at each end and intermediate of theendsof the tube nest for supporting the latter, said intermediatetube-supporting sheets being provided with openings of substantial,unrestricted flow-area and sa1d tube nest belng so formed as to embody alongitudinally-ex tending cavity for affording circulation of gaseousmedia through theopenings in the intermediate tube-supporting sheetsfrom a portion of the shell structure adjacent the outlet water box to aportion of the shell structure adjacent the inlet water box, meanscommunicating with the cavity near the inlet water'box for removingnon-condensed gaseous media from the shell structure, and means disposednear the inlet water box for effecting a cooling of the non-condensedgaseous media'prior to the removal of the same from the condenser.

19, In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having an inletfor gaseous media to be condensed, a tube nest extending longitudinallythrough the shell structure and exposed throughout its length to thegaseous media entering through the inlet,

an inlet chamber for supplying cooling communicatin "spective tube nest,water to the tube nest, an outlet chamber for receiving the coolingwater discharged by the tube nest, supporting tube sheets located ateach end and. intermediate of the ends of the tube nest and dividing thetube nest, longitudinally, into a series oi conembodylongitudinally-extending passageway means communicating with saidopenings for affording circulation of gaseous media from the respectivetube nest condensing sections to a portion of the shell structureadjacent the inlet water chamber, means directly with the condensingsection located adjacent the inlet water chamber for removingnon-condensed gaseous media irom the shell structure, and passagewaymeans affording free and open communication between the respective tubenest condensing sections for the drainage of condensate.

20. In a single-pass condenser, the combination of a shell structurehaving an inlet for steam to be condensed and an outlet for condensate,a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure andexposed throughout its length to the gaseous media entering through theinlet, an inlet Water box disposed at one end of the tube nest and anoutlet water box at the other end of the tube nest, said water boxesbeing arranged to circulate cooling Water through the entire tube nestin a single, longitudinal direction, tube-supporting sheets located ateach end and intermediate of ends of the tube nest and dividing the tubenest, longitudinally, into a series of alined sections having increasingtemperatures in a direction from the inlet water box toward the voutletwater box, a passageway of substantial, unrestricted flow-area formedwithin the tube nest and extending through the intermediatetubesupporting sheet, said passageway communicating directly with theresections forafltording circulation of gaseous media from therespectivetube nest sections successively into the passageway means in adirection fromthe warmest tube nest section toward the coldest tubenestsection, and means for withdrawing non-condensed gaseous media from thecoldest tube nest section.

21. In a single-pass condenser, the combination of a shell structurehaving an inlet for gaseous media to be condensed, a nest of coolingtubes extending longitudinally through the shell structure and exposedthroughout its length to the gaseous media entering through the inlet, atube sheet and inlet water box associated with one end of the tube nestand a tube sheet and an outlet water box associated with the other endof the tube nest, said water boxes being arranged to provide for thecirculation of cooling water in a single, longitudinal direo- 'tionthrough the entire tube nest, tube sheets Vlocated intermediate of theend tube sheets for supporting the tube nest, said tube sheets dividingthe tube nest, longitudinally, into a series of alined sections, thesection nearest the inlet water box being a rela- 'z i' tively coldersection than the sections further removed from the inlet water box, saidintermediate tube-supporting sheets having openings of substantial,unrestricted flowarea located soas to afford longitudinal circulation ofgaseous media between interior portions of the sections, passagewaymeans affording free and open communication be- 'tween'the respectivetube nest sections for the drainage of condensate, and means forwithdrawing air from the colder section of the tube nest directly andfrom the remaining warmer sections of the tube nest via the coldersection. p Y

22. In a condenser, the combination of 'a shell structure having aninlet for gaseous media to be condensedand an outlet for.

condensate, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shellstructure [and exposed throughout its length to the gaseous mediaentering through the inlet, 'an inlet water box associated with one endof the tube nest and defining a cold end thereof and an outlet waterbo'x associated with the other end of the'tube nest and defining arelatively wa'rm end; thereof, said water boxes providing for thecirculation of cooling water in asingle, longitudinal direction throughthe entire tube nest and said o tube nest being so formed as to embodysubscribed my name this amber, 1926.

water for "absorbing heat from the non-condensed v 'alongitudinally-extending cavity having an unrestricted 'fiow area forthe circulation of --gaseous media from the warm toward the cold end ofthe condenser, means for re moving non-condensed gaseous 'mediafrom thecold end of said cavity, and means disposed in the cavity forcirculating cooling from the inlet to the outlet water box gaseous mediain the cavity;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto first day of De- HENRY LEW-IS GUY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,816,149; Granted July 28, 1931, to

HENRY LEWIS GUY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 128, page 3, lines 15, 33, 80, 103, 127, claims 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and10, respectively, after' the word "shell" insert and exposed throughoutits length to the exhaust steam. p admitted through the inlet; and thatthe said Letters Patent shouid be read with" these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of September, A. D. 1931.

iviiJ Moore, (Sell) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

